Hotel Bora Bora is just as lovely as Cyndi described it to be. Thanks to her description, it's just as I imagined it.

We were met at the airport by the hotel boat for the 15-minute ride to the hotel dock. Beatrice from the hotel met us with an assistant who had chilled damp cloths and cold champagne for us. She walked us to our bungalow and checked us in right there. We spent some time getting unpacked and them immediately went for a snorkle right off our own little dock. The room is absolutely lovely. It's spacious and the bed is probably the most comfortable thing I've slept on since leaving home in October.

We had a drink at the bar on the beach and went for dinner in the hotel restaurant. It happened to be some kind of special fish night, so with the chef as our guide we viewed the catches of the day and selected spiny lobster and parrot fish for dinner. The chef could not have been more enthusiastic about telling us about the exotic fish available. The meal was wonderful. We had some tiny baby geckos as companions. They ran around the table a little bit, drinking the condensation off our glasses. I can understand that some might prefer a reptile-free dinner table but we didn't mind at all.

The resort is extremely quiet. We are not sure if there are 13 guests or if there are 13 rooms booked, but either way it's clearly the low season.

There should be a picture of this place in the dictionary next to the word "paradise". The water is gorgeous and this is one case where the advertising pictures are perfectly accurate. It's a fabulous spot on the planet.

It sounds wonderful, Marsha. I want to be there now! You have really had one fantastic trip and I've enjoyed all your seamail/email. Thanks for taking the time.

Marsha...we were thinking of you today and wondering what you were doing as the Navigator docked in LA...most of us wish we were back in Bora Bora, so thanks for sharing your highlights.

Can't wait until we can see all of George's photos - probably when we get home...the internet service here has not improved.

Happy times to the two of you in Bora Bora,

Really enjoying your reports and George's photos! Have a lovely time in Bora Bora!

The geckos sounded cute. Probably similar to the ones we have here ... :)

Masaki

Marsha, It sure does sound like paradise. <img border="0" alt="[hula]" title="" src="graemlins/hula.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[hula]" title="" src="graemlins/hula.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[hula]" title="" src="graemlins/hula.gif" /> Continue to enjoy your wonderful stay in Bora Bora.

Reluctantly we will bid farewell to Hotel Bora Bora this afternoon. Our boat taxi will pick us up at 1:40.

This hotel gets it right. There are so many hospitible, gracious touches everywhere you look I can't mention them all. They had a cocktail party on the beach last night that was really lovely. Guests and staff mingled together and they served drinks out of one of the hotel canoes that they had filled with ice earlier in the day. A local family serenaded us.

I am actually ready to go home. It's been almost six weeks since we left and I am ready to get back to my own little corner of the world. It's been a great trip.

Sounds like a fantastic trip and a lovely hotel. We hope to make it there sometime in the future.

Marsha & George, thanks so much for sharing your travels with all of us. Six weeks in paradise?......Heavenly. Welcome home!
- Michele

MarnaLou, 6 weeks is a long time to be away from home. I'm glad you and George had a great time, and I loved hearing about your experience at the Hotel Bora Bora. Sounds like it deserves its reputation!

I have enjoyed every report of your trip. Felt like we were right there with you. It's hard to believe it has been 6 weeks.
Have a safe journey home.

Marsha, I can't believe your trip is almost over. I have loved reading your reports. What a fantastic journey. Thanks for telling us all about it. Looking forward to more pictures.

Marsha, I can't believe it's over, either!! It seems like you just left! Have a safe trip home, my friend.

Marsha,

Welcome back home to both of you. We enjoyed your land and sea mails very much.

Marsha,

Welcome home! I really enjoyed your trip reports. Thanks!

Betty

We will all sure miss your SeaMail! It has been such a highlight of our day! Welcome Home!

Marsha - It sounds like your stay at the Hotel Bora Bora was a perfect end to a wonderful trip!! I'm so glad you enjoyed the hotel as much as Tom & I did. You brought back very special memories of our own visit to the paradise known as Hotel Bora Bora. I loved all of George's pictures of French Polynesia posted on the other thread. He is a fantastic photographer!!!! Can't wait to see more photos. Hope your trip home is good and enjoy being home sweet home.

Home sweet home is right, Cyndi. We had a wonderful time and we are very happy to be back home now.

I have to tell a little about the airport at Bora Bora (code name BOB). We arrived at the check-in desk for our flight back to Tahiti and ever so helpfully presented our passports. The desk agent slid them back to us, "I don't need these." He did not check our ID nor was there any security. You could go through the gift shop, if you liked, but you did not go through metal detectors or anything else at all. It was like things used to be.

We spent the night in Tahiti and took the Air France flight back to LA. Air France was fine, but there were at least 50 kids on the plane, many of whom were unaccompanied by either parents or good manners. It was like recess at a French reform school, with kids running up and down the aisles and fighting and wrestling the entire journey. It was really too long a flight to send kids without some supervision. I wonder how many of them ended their trip in LA, as the flight continued to Paris.

We spent the night in LA and then came home on the third day. Breaking the return up was a great idea as we arrived home relatively fresh.

I can't wait to go back!

Welcome home Marsha! I bet Stew was beside himself when he saw you!

Welcome back home, Marsha!

Masaki

FYI, I've added the rest of the pictures (from the time we left the PG until we left Bora Bora) to the collection o' images I posted before and they can be found at this link.

Thanks for sharing our long time away through LCT!

george

Great photos George! They actually made me forget the snow outside :)

Oh George, the pix's are spectacular! So sharp you can see the leaves on far away trees and ripples in the blue green water. What a wonderful vacation you and Marsha had.

George, I loved the first installment of the pix, but honestly, you have outdone yourself on the additions. Between you and Ken and Ron, I think we have world class photographers on this board! I so enjoyed every take you took on sealife, topography, people, it was all a pleasure for me to watch as a slideshow, every picture framed out perfectly! Thank you for sharing. Loved the pix of Marsha the best, of course! I think the little kids ranked right after.

Gosh! :rolleyes: You folks are very kind!

We had a wonderful time and I felt very lucky to wake up, walk around, and find such wonderful photographic subjects in such an amazing, exotic (for an Oregonian) place.

george

George,

Beautiful photos! Thanks for posting them for us to enjoy!

Great Pix George!!! It is obvious what a great time you guys had!!

Wow! Love your pictures! I hope Feb. comes quickly - I can't wait to see the beautiful islands in person.

JanetinPA, welcome aboard lct! I must have missed your other two posts. Any of us who have been on the PG have no doubt that this is one of the most beautiful spots on earth. You have a great trip to anticipate!

Janet, I expect you'll have a fantastic time. We've gone in late January / early February before and the weather was wonderful all throughout the Society Islands.

george

We were on your cruise and had a terrific time as well. Your photos are fabulous!! Mauruuru, vai

vaitape, do you mean George's and my cruise? If so, I am sorry we did not meet. I am glad you had a great time.

Yes, and I'm sorry we didn't meet either. There always seemed so much going on (including the chosen Not doing much of anything!!). I sure appreciate your photos and think that the one of that little racal captures him perfectly. What a trip, just can't say enough about the wonderful crew and the scenery.We're going to do the Cooks and Australs next. Had no problem convincing my husband which is something as this cruise was a bit of a stretch for us but so well worth it. Did you hear any of the rumor floating around that the terrific Philippino crew was going to be phased out? To us, they are one of the main assets of that cruise.

vaitape, no, I did not hear that rumor. Did you hear who would replace them? Hard to imagine this even being possible.

I think we are going to go back in early 2007 with one of the special itineraries.

George - wow! Great photos. They are all excellent but I especially like the children and the flowers. And you captured the various shades of blue very well.

Nice to see our friend Kelly manning the floating bar - he had that duty last week as well, when we were on the PG.

Dena

Isn't Kelly fun? It was really nice to see him. He hinted that his time on the PG may be coming to a close but did not want to say more. Maybe you got more out of him than I could.

Vaitape, cannot imagine that what you said about Philipino crew being phased out can be true. They are the backbone of the staff on RSSC from my experience. Wonderful people they are, with a great work ethic, and lovely people, period, from my viewpoint.

Yep, heard that there was only one or two more contracts to be offered and then the wonderful Philipino crew is going to be phased out and replaced those who are willing to work for a contract that pays less.If no one else has heard this speculation, then perhaps it is just an ugly rumor. The crew is incredible. If there is truth to the news, I'd appreciate being directed to the director of the "Complaint Department". How does one find out if this is fact or fiction?

Wow, Vaitape, I hope you are wrong! Those people are so great, I would hate to hear about them losing their jobs. Not sure I would do the PG again after 28 days on her, but had thought about the Marquesas or Cooks/Australs some day, but without those familiar faces, not sure I would!

Vaitape...I can't imagine the rumor is true. As I understand it, the Philipino crew replaced many of the European crew because their pay scale was somewhat lower - is there someone else who will work that hard for less????

We had the most incredible service from the crew on the Navigator and many where Philipino. It's always amazing to hear about them and their families at home.

Margo and Wandra, indeed, the Philipino crew are awesome. Can't imagine them being replaced and would be relieved to hear that the rumor is unfounded. Again, if there is truth to the news, I'd appreciate being directed to the director of the "Complaint Department". How does one find out if this is fact or fiction? If the rumor is truth, then WOW, RSSC continues to slip in our opinion. Gosh RSSC, if it isn't broken, why do you keep trying to break it??